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Jeremy Abbott of the U.S. performs his Men short program at the ISU 2012 World Figure Skating Championships in Nice, southern France, Friday, March 30, 2012.

COLORADO SPRINGS — Activists, politicians and Olympians have condemned Russia’s recently enacted anti-gay “propaganda” law, and some have suggested a boycott of the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

While there’s no serious movement toward a boycott, the issue has become toxic within the Olympic movement.

America’s top figure skaters who gathered at the World Arena this week for the “Champs Camp” indicated just how divisive it has become, with U.S. athletes being coached not to say anything that might upset Russia.

Josh Farris, the reigning world junior champ from Colorado Springs, said he’s been told “to be careful, just in case” about expressing his opinion. “My opinions are my opinions. I don’t want to cause something. My decision is to not say anything.”

Jeremy Abbott, an Aspen native and graduate of Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs, also found himself measuring his words.

“Russia is hosting us,” Abbott said. “I’m not going to go into somebody’s house and be like, ‘Um, the way you decorate is hideous, and you need to completely redo this or I’m never coming back.’ It’s a little rude, so I don’t want to say bad things about a country that’s hosting the world, essentially.

“Maybe I don’t agree with their policies, and maybe I don’t agree with some things, but that’s for them to sort out. My speaking out just makes me look like an ass.”

The Russian government has assured the International Olympic Committee it will not discriminate against gays during the Sochi Olympics next February, but it defends the law and repeated again this week that it will punish anyone who distributes information aimed at persuading minors that “nontraditional” relationships are normal.

At the recent track and field world championships in Moscow, American Nick Symmonds condemned the Russian legislation and “dedicated” his silver medal in the 800 meters to his gay friends. Russian pole vault gold medalist Yelena Isinbayeva created a furor by criticizing foreigners for condemning the law, then issued a statement opposing discrimination, saying her poor command of English caused a mis- understanding.

But the figure skaters at the World Arena either ducked the issue, or preferred to let the United States Olympic Committee speak for them.

“I think it’s important at a time like this for us to have one unified voice as a nation and as a team,” said Olympic champion Evan Lysacek. “I’ll leave that up to the USOC to comment.”

In a letter to the Olympic family, USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun pointed out that the Olympic Charter prohibits discrimination. He also said the IOC “recognizes the seriousness of the issue” and is in discussions with Russian officials.

“While we strongly support equal rights for all,” Blackmun wrote, “our mission is sustained competitive excellence and our focus will be to deliver a well prepared team and to put our athletes in a position to be the best they can be.”

This month, 83 members of Congress, including Colorado Democratic Reps. Diana DeGette, Jared Polis and Ed Perlmutter, signed a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry urging him to ensure safety of American LGBT athletes who will travel to Russia.

“We would like to know what diplomatic measures the State Department is planning to take to ensure that American LGBT athletes, staff and spectators, and their supporters, are not arrested, detained or otherwise penalized during the Sochi Games,” the letter said.

President Jimmy Carter prevented U.S. athletes from competing in the 1980 Moscow Games because of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, and the USSR boycotted the 1984 Los Angeles Games in retaliation, but President Barack Obama has said he doesn’t believe it’s “appropriate” to boycott the Sochi Games.

The few figure skaters willing to comment Friday are thankful there won’t be a boycott.

“Thank God, being an athlete and having trained so long for this, I would just be crushed if that was taken away,” Abbott said. “Pulling athletes out of a competitive event isn’t going to solve some country’s political disputes. It’s only going to affect the athletes, and it’s not going to do anything to change their policies or change the country or change the world.”

The Post's ski and Olympics writer, Meyer covered his 12th Games last summer in Rio de Janeiro. He has covered five World Alpine Ski Championships and more than 100 World Cup ski events. He is a member of the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame and Colorado Running Hall of Fame. He regularly covers running and the Colorado Rapids.

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